William- e



(No Model.)

W. E. MELHORN.

KITUHBN UTENSIL KNOWN S COOK'S TONE-S.- NO. 356,657.

Patented Jam.v 25, 188.7.

INT/ENTOR N. PErins. Fnnxwwgngher. wcshingm. 0.1;

UNITED STATES PATENT WIILLIAMA E. MELHORN, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SAMUEL S. CAUGHEY, OF SAME PLACE, AND FRANK T. CAUGHEY, OF UNION CITY,

llIICHIGAN.

KITCHEN UTENSIL. KNOWN AS COOKS `TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356.657, dated January 25, 1887.

Application lerl March 6,1886. Serial No. 194.2%. (No model.) Y

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM E. MELHORN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie,

in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Kitchen Utensils known as Goohs Tongs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this improvement is to provide tongs specially adapted for use in the kitchen as a cooking utensil, or that may be made of suitable size and form and used as fire-tongs. These results are attainable by I5 the mechanism illustrated in the drawings herewith filed as part hereof, in which the saine letters of reference denote the same parts in the different views.

Figure l is a side elevation representing 2o tongs embodying the features of Iny improve` ment. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

A A are the tongsjaws, having prongs a a' a?" and provided centrally with rearward and outwardly curved extensions B B, pivotally connected to each other bya rivet and burr,

as shown at C.

D D2 are operatinghandles, pivotally connected to each other by a rivet and burr, as shown at d, and provided with outwardly- 3o curved inner ends, which are pivot-ally couneeted by burrs and rivets to the ends of the curved jaw-extensions B B, as shown at E E. The outer ends of the handles D D2 are preferably formed with thumb and eye stays similar to shearshandles, as shown at D D3, but may be made in any suitable or convenient shape. Each of the handles D D2 is provided with on extension adjacent to its cony necting-rivet d, as shown at d d2. Thel 4o straight edges of the handles D D are provided with inward iianges, as shown at d in Fig. 2, which engage with a spring, F, which is securely held in the position shown by the Bauges da, the extensions d d?, and a rib, c,

aiixed to or made integral with the handle The central prongs of the tongs-jaws are given a wider curve than the outer prongs, in order that the jaws may be better adapted 5o to securely grasp objects of oval or round forms-such as eggs or potatoes-and lifting the saine from pots or kettles without breaking or bruising the same,

By, reason of the outwardly-curved extensions Bof the tongs-jaws connecting the saine with the tongs-handles, the movement of the latter away from each other at their outer ends will cause the jaws to open very widely, and be thereby adapted to grasp and lift objects of large form-such as heads of cabbage 6o or pieces of meat-and their inward movement will cause the jaws to clutch or hold objects similar to those mentioned.

lf desired, the pronged jaws may be made flat for use as Iirctongs. The implement may be made of various shapes and sizes, and thus suited to various purposes. The spring F may be dispensed with, if desired, the only object of the spring being to give the tongs` jaws tension on the articles to which they are 7o applied without the operation of the handlesD D2 by the hands of the user.

I am aware that hand grappling-tongs have before been made with pronged jaws pivotally connected by an interposed link with a 7'5 spring-actuated bar operating in a cylinder. This, therefore, I lay no broad claim to; but

What I do claim as new and of my invention is as follows-viz: L

1. In a grappling-tongs, thecolnbination, 8o with the pronged jaws A a, formed with backwardly-curved extension B, pivoted together, ofthe operating-handlesD D2, pivoted together and to the curved extensions B B of the jaws, formed with inward Bauges di, extensions d di, and rib d* adjacent to their connecting-pivot, and spring F, substantially as and for the purpose described and shown. f

2. As an improved article of manufacture, the grappling-tongs herein described, coin- 9o posed of the pronged jaws A A a a a2, each formed with a baekwardly-ourved extension,

B B, pivoted together at G, operating-handles D D2, pivoted together at d, and to the curved extensions B B of the jaws at E, and spring F, all constructed and adapted for operation as and for the purposes stated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. MELHORN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. Loi/*BIER .Moon GEIE. 

